Mahad Mohamud, a 36-year-old Somali national, was deported from Minneapolis, United States, to Mogadishu, Somalia, five weeks ago. In Somalia, he is known as "Garyaqaan," meaning "judge," a name he used on TikTok where he had nearly half a million followers. His TikTok activity included defending his clan's interests.
Background and US Entry
Mohamud's journey to the United States began over a decade ago. He first resided in South Africa until 2021, stating he experienced an assault in a xenophobic attack. Subsequently, he traveled to Brazil and then entered the US without documentation via the Mexican border. Upon entry, he was arrested and detained for one month. He was later released with a work permit due to an active asylum case.
He settled in Minneapolis, where he worked as an Uber driver. His TikTok presence grew, providing income through fan interactions. Mohamud states that he received death threats from the Somalia-based Islamist militant group al-Shabab due to his public defense of the Somali government. These threats were part of his asylum claim in the US.
Detention and Deportation Process
In October, a White House-linked X account, "Rapid Response 47," accused Mohamud of involvement in the kidnapping of French officials from a Mogadishu hotel. Mohamud denied this allegation, stating he was not in Mogadishu at the time, and the case was dropped without conviction. He claims his detention by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was initiated after a rival TikToker disclosed his address. Mohamud reported that ICE informed him of two cases against him: illegal entry into the country and the alleged kidnapping of a French official. He stated that the FBI investigated the kidnapping claim and cleared him.
In early May, immigration agents arrested Mohamud. He was transported to ICE headquarters in Minneapolis before being moved to Kandiyohi County Jail Prison in Willmar, Minnesota, where he spent six months in detention. Three of these months were spent awaiting a decision on his asylum case, and the remaining three awaiting deportation. His asylum claim was denied, as authorities rejected the assertion that he would be in danger in Somalia.
Mohamud was transferred to Arizona on multiple occasions for deportation flights, but departures were delayed due to logistical issues. He described being placed in a restraining jacket during his final departure. The journey involved flights to Costa Rica, Senegal, and Nairobi, Kenya, before arriving in Mogadishu. He states the restraining jacket was removed in Nairobi, and he was handcuffed for the final leg to Mogadishu.
Return to Somalia and Current Concerns
Upon his return to Mogadishu, Mohamud was reunited with his three children after a decade. He states he continues to fear for his life due to death threats received via text messages from al-Shabab. He reports implementing additional security measures and residing in a protected home.
His return was acknowledged by members of his clan and local politicians, attributed to his social media profile. He anticipates that his public presence may offer opportunities not available to other deported Somalis.
Broader Context of Somali Deportations
Recent statements by former President Donald Trump include calls to end temporary protection status for individuals from unsafe countries and comments on Somali immigrants, stating they should "go back to where they came from" and "their country is no good for a reason." These remarks followed reports of large-scale fraud within Minnesota's social assistance program, in which some Somali immigrants were implicated.
Following these comments, videos circulated on social media depicting immigration agents in Minneapolis and St. Paul, cities with substantial Somali communities. This has reportedly generated concern within the community.
The article also detailed the experiences of other Somali individuals facing deportation or struggling after forced return:
- Five young Somali men reported relocating from their rented apartment due to fears of ICE tracing their address, leading to missed work and food scarcity.
- Another anonymous young Somali man, who had entered the US illegally after drought destroyed his livelihood, spent 18 months in custody before being returned to Somalia. He expressed uncertainty about his future, citing a cost of approximately $20,000 for his journey to the US and a lack of employment opportunities in Somalia, leading him to consider migrating again.